THE GAME OF BILLIARDS.

Evening Star, Issue 15020, 31 October 1912, Page 2

THE GAME OF BILLIARDS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—l have just returned from Christchurch, and have rend Mr Charles Matthews letter animadverting upon th<; Hcv. Mr Jones's tinctures re billiard?. Of course Mr Jones is entitled to his own opinion, but I would like your readers to understand that he was speaking for himself, and not by any means voicing thelnind of the conference. As a matter of fact, there '.vas considerable dissent from hu criticism in tho meeting, dissent in which I personally shared. For the life of mo I cannot discover any harm in the came, ivhicsh is unquestionably one of fi-liill, X'n fortunately, however, its aefvoeiattons are not entirely happy, but why a game, should be tabooed on that account I fail to understand. I think Mr Jones would have been better advised if, in treating tho. subject he had in hand—viz., gambling—he had deplored the degradation of perfectly harmless game* by the introduction of the betting element. Further, I consider Mr Jones's- argument faJlacioue. He might with equal reason have denounced the acquisitidn of, Gay. the art of writing, becuuse it lends itficlf to the crime, of forgery. Is there any good which is not susceptible to abuse, or any game immune from gambling if one deteniunes to introduce- it? The. religion of Jesua Christ, as I undemtand it, does not debar a man from innocent-pleasuree. It is not a kill-joy. It is mi *«sentiallv sano thing. _ It is to 6ano that it enables a man to indulge in every lecitirnato recreation without either uJLairia Y-.alenre fe jlis ccaiscisnoe Or in-

fhctmg injury upon hin felloes. The game of bowk used somehow to be associated by me with boer. There may havo been some foundation of fart for my fancy in tho days gone by, but however that may be I have cause to bo grateful for this grand' o'd gorne, and know that it mav be played absolutely free from any 'disagreeable, features. Speaking for myself, my protest is not against this, that, or any other game or pastime: it is against those alien and Ytooun elements such as gambling which serve only to degrade them. I write principally, however, to make it clear that Mr Jones expressed only his own personal opinions, just as I have expressed mine. It is the genius of the Church to which we both belong that a man is free to utter his soul. Liberty of speech is vital to us. \V« are neither of us in peril of excommunieation.—l am, etc., K. Herbert Hobday. October 31.